Improve Your Child's Education

Parental tips to Improve Your Child's Education

As a parent guardian, you are your child's first and constant teacher. There are many things you can do at home to help your child be more successful in school.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Show your child respect and teach respect for others.
• Stress the importance of good discipline.
• Talk with your child. Use and encourage good listening and communication skills.
• Speak positively about school, teachers and education.
• Know and support the school's rules.
• Take part in parent/school organizations.
• Attend all parent teacher conferences.
• Get to know school staff early in the school year and visit often.
• Express interest in the your child's school subjects and activities.
• Establish a homework time and a quiet place for your child to study.
• Make a study kit to store supplies such as paper, pens, pencils, dictionary, calculator and highlighters.
• Check homework and projects and attend school functions.
• Develop and submit an emergency after-school care plan. Be sure to include telephone and pager numbers and addresses.
• Limit hours of TV watching and video game playing.
• Give your child chores at home to teach responsibility.
• Expect jobs to be completed - such as washing dishes, cutting grass, cleaning their room, taking out trash or caring for a pet.
• Be sure your child has many different experiences - take trips and explore the city.
• Read newspapers, books, magazines, recipes, instructions and other things. Let your child see you read often. Take the time to read to your child.
• Help your child take part in making decisions about things at home which affect him or her.
• Make sure your child has all his or her immunizations.
• Help your child come to school prepared to learn by providing adequate sleep time, a nutritious breakfast and encouraging words for a good day.